Flare



July 26, 1938. 1.. DRIGGS. JR 2,124,376

FLARE Fild March 20, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l F 61. F162. 7 7b Jmm LoulS I-DRlG-GJJn,

Y MM July 26, 1938. 1.. 1... DRIGGS, JR

FLARE Filed March 20, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jul 26, 1938 Louis L. Drlggs, In, Dayton, om

Application March 20, 1936, Serial No. 69,781

Claims.

My invention-relates to flares.

Itis my object to provide a flare of the type that is supported by a parachute, that can be ejected from a rapidly-moving airplane without 5 the opening of the parachute until the speed of the falling flare has been reduced after ejection from the plane to permit the parachute to safely open without being torn to pieces by reason of the velocity of the movement of the flare. The problem that has arisen in connection with the ejection of flares that are supported by parachutes is this: Due to the increasing speeds of planes from which the flares are ejected, it is found that the parachutes will not stand the terrific speed when the flare is ejected into the slipstream of the .plane, at the speed the plane is moving. It is not feasible to increase the size, weight, and strength of the parachutes.

It is the object of this invention to solve this problem by ejecting the flare and the parachute enclosed within a suitable casing as a unit with the parachute unopened; and thereafter, after the lapse of a predetermined time, due to the slowing down of the cylinder containing the flare and the parachute by reason of the air resistance the body of the cylinder sets up, the cover of the parachute is stripped from it and the parachute can open, and the flare is ignited.

It is an object to provide a hermetically sealed case for a flare and its parachute; and to provide an explosive means adapted to be ignited from a remote point in the plane, which explosive means will drive a casing containing the flare, its fuse, its ignition means and its parachute away from the plane as a. unit. Thereafter the fuse serves to detach the casing around the parachute, so that it can open and serves to ignite the flare.

It is my object to provide a flare that will ignite only after it has'left the plane and a fuse for igniting it that can only be initiated in its burning after the flare and fuse have left the plane a predetermined distance.

ings, so that the parachute can function.

It is a further object to combine the function- ..of....the fuse for the dual purpose .ofigniting the It is an additional object to provide a hermetically sealed case to prevent the inlet of moistm'e into the case to'injure the flare candle, parachute, explosive ejecting charge and fuse mechanism.

It is a further object to provide, optionally, a supplementary, small, very heavy and strong parachute which opens after the flare assembly has left the plane. Its purpose is to slow down the flare and to thereafter strip the casing or container of the main parachute from the main parachute after that container has been detached .from the container of the candle as a result of the action of the fuse. This supplementary parachute has an additional function, which is an object of this invention, namely, that of lowering the main parachute container to the ground.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the flare casing, ejecting charge, fuse mechanism, candle and the casing around the parachute, showing the parachute as folded, and also showing the arrangement of the pilot parachute, which is optional.

Figure 2 is aside elevation of the flare assembly outside of its casing.

Figures 3 and 3a show an enlarged section of the flare in the projectortube and supported by the mounting bracket.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the opening of the pilot parachute.

Figure 5 shows the strippin of the parachute container by the pilot parachute from the main parachute just before the container is pulled away.

Figure 6 is a similar view with the container around the main parachute nearly removed, and with the flare ignited.

Figure 7 illustrates the pilot parachute lowering the main parachute container to the ground.

Figure 8 shows the flare, burning, being lowered to the ground by the parachute.

I have solved the problem which has arisen due to the high speed of airplanes, causing the main parachutes to be ripped to pieces when they open after the ejection of the flare, by delaying the opening of the parachute until the ejected flare and parachute lose speed,'due to the resistance of the body of the flare to the air. I have solved this problem by ejecting th flare and the parachute unopened.

The cylinder containing -the flare and the parachute moves away from the plane and loses speed until its speed has been reduced to a point 55 ofl the sleeves on the end of the flare and on.

the end of the parachute container. This permits the flare which is connected to the main parachute to pull the main parachute out of its cylindrical container, so that the flare, which is then ignited, can be supported in its descent towards the ground.

Supplementary to, the foregoing is a small, very strong pilot parachute, that is adapted to open shortly after the cylinder leaves the plane, but before the main parachute and the flare start functioning. This pilot parachute is very strong and heavy. Its function is two-fold: First, to slow down the speed of the cylinder containing the flare and the main parachute, and, second, to insure the main parachute suitably opening. This pilot parachute cannot pull the main parachute out of its casing until the collar is re leased, but it insures the removal of the cylindrical casing from the main parachute when the main parachute is detached from the flare by the opening of the collar. The pilot parachute is connected only to the cylindrical casing containing the main parachute, so that the cylindrical casing will return to earth by itself supported by the small pilot parachute, and prevents this hea y casing from injuring anyone below.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 9 designates a sheet metal support for supporting a flare casing on an airplane. The rubber collar 2 is' interposed between the conical head 3 of the cap d and the plate 5 of the support i. The cap 4 is retained in position by the bolts 6, carried respectively by the cap t and the supporting plate 5.

The head of the conical cap 3 is provided with an annular sleeve 7 that is internally threaded at t. There is threaded.into this sleeve the extemally-threaded container 9, arranged as an inverted cup with an open bottom it closed by a disc M. This cup contains the propelling explosive i2, having an igniter it, which is connected by the wires it and it to the terminal plug it, that in turn is connected to an electric circuit, the energization of which is operated from the cockpit of the airplane. I

The cap plate t is provided with an eye that is bolted by the bolt id to the-plate 3. There is threaded through thiseye thewire cable i9 to form a loop. The loop is retained in position by the clamp d t. This wire cable is connected to a coil of wire 2i at 22. The other end wire is connected to the loop 23 that is unted within a plate 26. plate 26 is attached by nails .or rivets 25 into the wooden block 26, which forms the fuse container. There is mounted in this removable plate 2 5 the ends 217' of the striking matches 28, the ends of which are reversely bent as at 29 and carry a st composition as thereon. Thus when they are drawn through the igniter composition at due to the pulling out of the plate 2% by the loop 2%, the resulting e ignites the powder 32 in the caes 88, which in as. Thisfusetrainis usedtoignitethematerialdcsignated as. Thisresultsinstriim sthe cap 37- containing the fuse block 26 and fuse mfromtheendoftheflareflandresultsinignitingtheflare. Itwillbeunderstood that the initiation of this .ignition of the fuse by the striking of'the wire 29 and its composition 30 upon the material 8i does not take place until the cable II is stretched its full length, at which time the flare and its parachute are completely outside of the flare casing 38.

. ;The cap 37 has its upper end, at 81c, turned inwardly and then up and over a ring 31b, which is carried on the inside 'of the 39 at its It will be further understood that the bottom of this casing 89 is hermetically sealed by the cap 40. The cap M has a flange M, with an arcuate rib 62, overlapping an extended portion 68 on the casing 39. Between these two portions is a resilient ring 54. When the flare and its parachute with its casings is driven out as a unit from the casing 39, this cap is stripped from the casing 89. The flare and its parachute are driven out due to the explosive force. of the explosive material I2.

Means to detach the flare casing and the parachute casing ends of the halves of the locking ring together.

These ends overlap and have eyes at 58 for receiving the pin 6t, and when the pin 50 is pulled out, the halves fall apart so as to release the connected casings for the flare designated 52 and for the main parachute designated 58.

These locking plate halves which are preferably semi-circular and are split spring bands, carry inwardly-projecting studs 66 that engage with corresponding apertures in the annular collars 55 and 55 which are respectively mounted on the adjacent ends of the casings 52 and 53. Thesecollars 55 and 58 have turned-over es abutting one another at El. The collar 55 is mounted upon an end plate E58 at the bottom of the flare casing- 52. The collar 59 is mounted on the end of the parachute casing 58 by suitable rivets 5t.

Thuswhen the pins 5i are pulled, the split spring hands constituting the locking plate spring apart, removing the studs 56 from the in the collars E5 and as, tting those collars to separate.

Parachute v2 The main parachute which is shown in folded condition at W, has connected to its usual ropes ti the cable 82, the other end of which is anchored in an eye 88 mounted in the end plate as of the flare casing. This cable is used to'support the flare with its. burning end downwardly when the parachute opens.

It will be observed that the straps M which pull the pins bi do so when the fuse tes the flare, and causes a stripping of the flare end from the cap 3?, so that simultaneously the casing of the flare and the casing of the parachute can then be pulled from its casing and opened to support the flare with its burning end downwardly.

Due to the fact that the flare casing and the parachute casing have been joined together as a single instrumentality, when they are elected as a unit forcibly from the flare casing 39, this unitary structure tumbles over and over while fuse. Therefore, the inain'parachute will not be.

the fuse is burning, and during 'this period the whole structure slows down materially from that speed which it had attained with the plane when: it was ejected from the plane. The speed there fore is reduced to a safe point'before the spring locking plates are permitted to separate by pulling the pins iii, due. to the operation of the pulled out of its casing 53 until the speed of the flare has sloweddown to'a point where the parachute will not be ripped to pieces by the excessive speed of the air to which it is being subjected.

* Pilot parachute casing 39 after stripp n the hermetically sealed cover 40. The cable 2! isstripped to its full length and isjust about to initiate the burning of the fuse 34. The cap 81 is still in place. V If the pilot parachute is being used, it will now start to leave its receptacle and open, as indicated. It cannot yet pull the main parachute casing 53 away because it is attached by the spring locking plates or collars to the flare casing 52.

In Figure 5 the parts are shown in that position in which the cap 31 with the straps 41 have now been blown away by the explosive 36, resulting in pulling the pins 5i and permitting the spring locking plate halves to spring apart so that the casings 52 and 53 can separate. The main parachute 60 is just beginning to emerge, due to the lengthening of its cable 62, and due to the fact that the pilot parachute is now pulling the main flare casing 53 away from the main \parachute. The flare candle has been ignited and is now burning.

In Figure 6 is shown the parts with the main parachute container or casing 53 nearly pulled away from the main parachute 60.

Figure 7 shows the pilot parachute supporting the main parachute container or casing 53 on its way to the ground. Figure 8 shows the main parachute opened extremely strong. It is held in position by the cap 40 of the main flare casing, but it immediately opens upon the main parachute and the flare being ejected by the force of the explosive I! from the main casing 39, which results in.

stripping of the sealing cap 40. The pilot parachute 64 is connected by a cable 66 to the head 61 of the main parachute casing 53.

Therefore, its first function 'is to resist the movement of the composite flare casing and main parachute casing, which have not yet been detached from one another because the fuse has not yet burnt through to a point where theoap 37 is stripped from the flare and the straps 41 are pulled. Thus, the small parachute 6! serves 'to reduce the speed of this composite cylinder just as soon as it leaves the plane.

Thereafter the second function of the pilot parachute takes place. .When the fuse operates to bring about the detachment of the main parachute case 53 from the flare case I52, the

"pilot parachute pulls the main parachute case safely lower the heavy case 53 of the main parachute, so that it will not be injured, so that it will not injure anything on the ground, and so that it is more easily located.

Method of operation With this description of the details of operation of this flare, the sequence of operations canbe understood by referring particularly to Figures 4 to 8 inclusive, where the successive stages of the operation of the parts can be 'seen diagrammatically illustrated.

In Figure 4 the parts are illustrated in that 1 position which they occupy after the composite cylinders, comprising the casings 52 and 53 with the unopened main parachute 60 and the flare, have been ejected by the explosive I! from the and supporting the burning flare as it descends towards theground.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, a flare candle, a support for said flare candle, a parachute connected to said candle, a casing for the parachute detachably connected to the flare candle, a fuse mounted on the flare candle, igniter means adjacent said fuse, means connecting said igniter means to the support for said candle for operating the igniter means when the candle has moved a predetermined distance away from said support; and an explosive means mounted on said candle ignitible by said fuse and adapted to blow away said fuse from the candle and ignite the candle; and means connected to said fuse for detaching the parachute casing from the flare candle to permit the parachute to-open.

2. In combination, a. flare candle, a casing therefor, a parachute connected to saidcasing, a parachute casing, means for detachably attaching said candle casing and said parachute casing in abutting relationship, said attaching means comprising interlocking spring collars engaging said respective casings, pin means for connecting said collars, a strap means connected to said pin means and a fuse cap-on the end of the candle P rt the ca die. and iosive m icca between the end oi the can 51;. r; the iuse cap, ignitible by the fuse and adapted to blow away the fuse cap, ignite the candle and operate the pin means to detach flare parachute s. In combination, a candle and a casing, a parachute connected to'the c for support oi the candle, a 1-: w-ute casing detachably connected to the candle in abutting relationship, overlapping spring collars having interengaging studs in said respective casings, pin means for retaining said spring collars in operative position, a strap connected to said pin means, a cap on the end of the candle and having said strap attached thereto, a fuse in said cap, losive means between the cap and the end of the candle, whereby when the fuse ignites the explosive means the cap is blown off, the pin means is pulled with the strap and the parachute casing is detached from the candle to permit the opening of the w r-ute.

5. In combination, a candle and a casing, a parachute connected to the casing for support of the candle, a pute casing detachably connected to the candle in abutting relationship, overlapping spring collars having interenin said respective casings, pin means said sp collars in operative posiconnected to said pin means, a cap on the end of the candle and having-said strap attached thereto, a fuse in said cap, explosive means between the cap and the end of the candle, whereby when the fuse ignites the explosive means the cap is blown ofi, the pin means is pulled with the strap and the parachute casing is detached from the candle casing to permit the opening of the parachute, a support for said foregoing assembly, a cable connected to said support at one end and to the fuse at the other end, and means to explosively drive the assembly away from the support, so that upon the extension of the cable the fuse'will be ignited by the pull of the cable.

6, In combination, a candleand a casing, a v parachute connected to the casing for support of the candle, aparachute casing detachably connected to the candle in abutting relationship, overlapping spring collars having intereng studs in smd respective casings, pin

means for retaining said spring collars in operative position, a strap connected to said pin means, a cap on the end of the candle and attached to said strap, afuse in said cap, explosive means between the cap and the end of the candle,

whereby when the fuse ignites the explosive means the cap is blown oil, the pin means is pulled with the strap and the parachute is detached from the candle c to permit the opening of the parachute, a support for said foregoing assembly, a cable connected to said support at one end and to the fuse at the other end, means to project the assembly away from the support, so that upon the extension of the cable the fuse will-be igni by the pull of the isease cablea Beaten", 2;'1;' w f t ng assembly unt ejected f m the casing by sai p oleotihg m 7. In combination, a candle and a casing, a parachute connected to the casing of the candle, 2 casing detachably connected to the #:i s? in abutting relationship, overspring collars having interengagin'g lanpins studs in said respective casings, pin means for '1'; said spring collars in operative position, a strap connected to said pin means, a cap on the end or the candle and attached to said strap, a fuse in said cap, explosive means between the cap and the end of the candle, whereby when the fuse ignites the explosive means the cap is blown ofi, the pin means is pulled with the strap and the parachute casing is detached from the candle casing to permit the opening of the parachute, a support for said foregoing assembly, a cable connected to said support at one end and to the fuse at the other end, means to explosively drive the assembly away from the support, so that upon the extension of the cable the fuse will be ignited by the pull of the cable, and a sealed casing for retaining said assembly until ejected from the casing'by said explosive means, and means for remotely igniting said explosive means electrically.

8. In combination, a support casing; a flare assembly mounted therein comprising a flare candle, a main parachute connected thereto, a main parachute casing directly detachably connected to said flare candle, a pilot parachute connected to said main parachute casing and contained between the end of the parachute casing and the support casing; means on said flare candle comprising a fuse, a fuse cap and an explosive means adapted upon ejection from the support casing of the flare candle and the main parachute casing with the pilot parachute to detach the main parachute casing from the flare candle, so that the pilot parachute can open and strip the main parachute casing from the flare candle, and means for ejecting said pilot parachute, main parachute casing and flare candle with its fuse from said casing, and means connected to the support casing and to said fuse for initiating the igniting of the fuse after the flare candle has moved a'predetermined distance away from saidsupport casing.

9. In combination, a flare candle, a fuse cap mounted thereon at one end, a parachute casing mounted thereon at the opposite end, a jparachute in said casing attached to said flare candle, an explosive cap removing means interposed between the candle and the fuse cap, and ,means connected to the cap for detaching the parachute casing irom. the candle upon removal of said cap by said explosive means. i 10. In combination, a flare candle, a fuse cap ,mcunted thereon at one end, explosive cap removing means interposed between' the candle and the cap, a parachute casing detachably mounted on said candle at the other end, a parachtue in said casing and attached to said flare candle, and means connected to the cap for detaching said parachute casing from the candle upon removal of the cap by said explosivemeans,

and means in said cap for igniting the fuse, said means being adapted to operate upon exertion thereon of a predetermined pull.

' LOUIS 'L. BRIGGS, Jr. 

